PM Modi to leave on 5-day visit to Sweden & UK today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave on a five-day visit to Sweden and United Kingdom this evening. Mr Modi has expressed confidence that his visit will be useful in enhancing India's engagement with these countries. In a statement before leaving for the two European countries, Mr Modi said, he is visiting Sweden and the UK for bilateral meetings and for the India-Nordic Summit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). 

In the first leg of his visit, Prime Minister will attend the first ever India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm tomorrow which is being co-hosted by India and Sweden. Besides Mr Modi, Prime Ministers of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland will attend the Summit. 

Mr Modi said, this is his first visit to Sweden and India and Sweden share warm and friendly ties. He said, the partnership is based on democratic values and commitment to an open, inclusive and rule-based global order. Prime Minister said, Sweden is a valuable partner in India's development initiatives. 

Mr Modi said, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and he will have the opportunity to interact with top business leaders of both the countries and chart out a future road-map of cooperation with focus on trade and investment, innovation, science and technology, skill development, smart cities, clean energy, digitization and health. 

The Nordic countries have globally recognized strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, ports modernization, cold-chains, skill development and innovation. Nordic competencies fit well with the vision for India’s transformation. 

Prime Minister will be in the UK from Wednesday to Friday as second leg of his visit. Mr Modi will be address a unique event ‘Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath’ in London on Wednesday. It would be a one of is kind live interactive conversation with the Prime Minister where he will answer questions concerning India. 

Prime Minister in a tweet message said that he looks forward to this event and asks people to share their thoughts on Narendra Modi App or post videos on social media with #BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath. On 19th and 20th April, the Prime Minister will also participate in the CHOGM being hosted by the United Kingdom. Mr Modi said, India and the United Kingdom share a modern partnership bound by strong historical ties. Mr Modi said, his visit to London presents another opportunity for both countries to infuse fresh momentum to this growing bilateral engagement. Mr Modi said, he will be



focusing on enhancing India-UK partnership in the areas healthcare, innovation, digitization, electric mobility, clean energy, and cyber security. 

Mr Modi will call on Queen Elizabeth II, interact briefly with CEOs of the two nations who are working on a new agenda of economic partnership, launch an Ayurveda Centre of Excellence in London, and welcome the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member. He said, the Commonwealth is a unique multilateral grouping that not only provides useful assistance to its developing country members, particularly the small states and small-island developing states, but also has a strong international voice for development issues.

The CHOGM will begin in London United Kingdom today. Ahead of the formal Heads of Government Meeting on Thursday and Friday, there will be three days of forums on Business, Women, People and Youth beginning today. Mr Modi will take part in the event on Thursday and Friday. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be reaching by this evening Stockholm where he will have a number of bilateral meetings with Sweden. These discussions are aimed at further strengthening the close ties that the two countries are sharing since long in different fields. 

He will have bilateral as well as multi lateral discussions with his counterparts of Nordic countries at the first ever India-Nordic Summit, being held with the main theme -Shared Values and mutual prosperity. 

The Nordic Countries include Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. According to Indian Ambassador in Sweden Monika Kapil Mohta, besides furthering trade and investments, India is looking at bringing affordable and clean technologies into Infrastructure sector.

Considering the similarities in characteristics and ease of mobility across Nordic countries, India intends to develop a pan Nordic view while strengthening its relations with the region and exploring possibilities of utilizing the potential source of clean and innovation technologies and environmental solutions of these Nordic countries. In a win-win situation, the huge market and vast pool of talent and skills available in India can be potential opportunity for Nordic countries.

The Prime Minister will have a brief stopover in Berlin on his way back home on the 20th of this month. He will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and exchange views on several bilateral, regional and global issues.